Zacky Dhaffa Pratama

Zacky is a Predoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism. He holds a master’s degree in Business Analytics from BI Norwegian Business School.

What is your background?

I have a Master of Science in Business Analytics and Bachelor of Business Administration for my academic background. For my cultural background, I am an Indonesian who used to study in Japan and Norway, and now working here in Norway.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on a survey data which I am doing some data preprocessing so that it is ready to be analyzed for future research! I am expecting to get other works in a few weeks as I have just been joined the research center.

Can you describe your office space?

Cup of coffee and a water bottle, notebook for work and three pens (red, blue, and black), two monitors, keyboard-mouse, and CABLES.

If you had to choose a different field, what would it be?

Astrophysics, astronomy, or other space-related fields! When I was a child, I dreamt of becoming an astronaut because the space was cool (it is still cool now). But sadly, it was one of the unfortunately-cancelled-childhood-dreams-due-to-reality-check (I have glasses and Indonesia has been not having a significant interest and effort in exploring the space, as far as I know).

Is there a TV-show you are binging?

Netflix’s Avatar the Last Airbender! I grew up watching the cartoon on my local television and it had some memorable moments. Now with the release of Netflix’s live-action adaptation, I was curious how they adapt the narratives, so I am watching it. I am trying my best right now to not overly comment the show due to the creative difference with the original cartoon series…

What are you listening to these days?

It’s hard to answer specifically because I often just play “Liked Songs” (4,804 songs per 01 March 2024) on my Spotify and listen whatever songs played. But if I am allowed to have this question as a place to suggest some artists, they would be: Sakurazaka46 (Japanese girl-group that often has songs with critics on social issues while having unique dance performances), Elephant Gym (Taiwanese-based math rock band and also my early introduction to the genre), Laufey (Icelandic jazz singer-songwriter with calming voice and very much coffee-shop vibes).

If you were prime minister for a day, what would you do?

In the context of being an Indonesian, I think it would be equal to a President. If that happened, I would *insert policies that can disrupt the country’s status quo per March 2024*.

And a place you’ve been where you’d like to go back?

I think it would be Beppu, Oita Prefecture, Japan. It was the city where I spent 4 years for my bachelor’s degree, and I felt that is also the place I grew up from teenager to a young adult. Perhaps I can also start collecting the Onsen (i.e. hot spring) stamps and becoming an Onsen-master…